Fast Fleet Tankers

These ships are fast fleet tankers capable of replenishment at sea of warships, and with the ability to meet future fuel requirements plus provide a platform for future helicopters.

They are electric ships - which means they are driven by an electric motor, powered by diesel generators - and take advantage of the latest propulsion control technology.

A double-hulled design helps to prevent pollution should the outer hull sustain damage.  Their cargo will be mainly Petroleum, Oil and Lubricants (POL) and they replace the O Class ships, Olna and Olwen.

The vessels have been built to commercial standards with military requirements incorporated where necessary. The contract was placed with what was then Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd (VSEL), now part of BAE Systems Marine Ltd, in March 1997. 

RFA Wave Knight was built by BAE Systems, being launched in 2000. She was accepted into service in 2003.

RFA Wave Ruler was built by BAE Systems, being launched in 2001. She was accepted into service in 2003.

RFA Wave Knight seen here in Leith in 2006

 

 

 

RFA Wave Ruler seen in Leith in 2005, the first picture is two pictures stitched together.

Fleet Replenishment Ships - Fort Class II

Although all part of the Fort Class, these ships have two very different roles.

Fort Victoria and Fort George combine the functions of fleet oilers and stores ships. Being large and adaptable they are equipped with an expansive flight deck, supported by hangars for three Sea King-sized helicopters.  This class can embark and support both anti-submarine helicopters and troop-carrying Sea King Mk4 helicopters, which can transfer large amounts of stores to other ships.

For dual-purpose replenishment rigs are fitted amidships, enabling transfer of fuel and stores to two ships simultaneously. Both can fuel vessels over the stern. The variety of tasks that these vessels can be employed upon is reflected in their complements.  The ship’s company of RFA officers and ratings is supplemented by civilian Warship Support Agency staff and RN personnel who maintain the weapons.

The ability to re- arm and re-supply the Royal Navy while underway, coupled to their capacity to carry extra helicopters, makes these ships a highly flexible and important part of any naval task group. They have extensive storage areas for stowage of everything from food to weapons.

RFA Fort Victoria was built by Harland and Wolff, being launched in 1990. She was accepted into service in 1994.  

RFA Fort George was built by Swan Hunter, being launched in 1991. She was accepted into service in 1994.  

RFA Fort Victoria

RFA Fort George

 Seen here alongisde in Leith

Fleet Replenishment Ships - Fort Class I

The role of Fort Rosalie and Fort Austin is to replenish Royal Navy warships with dry stores such as food, spare parts and ammunition while underway.  This complex task is carried out by the RFA and warship steaming along side-by-side and transferring stores along a cable rigged between the two vessels.  Both ships are fitted with large flight decks and each ship has hangar space allowing them to operate a number of Sea King helicopters. This gives the ship an enhanced capacity to resupply by employing the VERTREP process to transfer supplies from ship to ship by helicopter. It also means that these ships can operate as independent force units with their four helicopters in the anti-submarine or commando role.

The ability to re- arm and re-supply the Royal Navy while underway, coupled to their capacity to carry extra helicopters, makes these ships a highly flexible and important part of any naval task group. They have extensive storage areas for stowage of everything from food to weapons. 

RFA Fort Rosalie was built by Scotts, being launched in 1976. She was accepted into service in 1978.

RFA Fort Austin was built by Scotts, being launched in 1977. She was accepted into service in 1979. 

She is currently laid up in Portsmouth Naval Dockyard.

RFA Fort Rosalie (taken from the Forth Road Bridge)

 

And again her departure from the Forth Road Bridge 

 

RFA Fort Austin as she departed Crombie Pier and was heading down the Firth Of Forth a few years back taken from the escorting Forth Ports tug MT Beamer (I was at the very top of the mast next to the top fire hose), I also have images of HMS Exeter (top of mast), (deck level) if you compare these two shots you can see the difference in height and you will see they are not taken NOT a helicopter , these were the days when you could get access to the tugs - see also my HMS's Tyne, Illustrious, Ark Royal, RFA Orangeleaf and HrMs Zuiderkruis shots.

RFA ORANGELEAF

Royal Fleet Auxiliary support tanker Orangeleaf was built by Cammell Laird, being launched in 1973. She was accepted into service in 1979.

Together with her sister ship RFA Brambleleaf they make up the support tankers.  These ships have dual responsibility for the replenishing of warships at sea and for the bulk movement of fuels between Ministry of Defence depots.

The ships were originally designed as commercial tankers but were taken over by the MoD and converted to RFA service. They can carry some food and stores, but the main cargo is diesel and aviation fuel.

She is seen here departing the Firth of Forth from a few years back having beend topped up at Crombie.

In this backdrop you can see Leith and the city of Edinburgh

Type 23 Frigates

Powerful and versatile with the capability to operate anywhere in the world, the type 23 frigate is the mainstay of the modern surface fleet. The 13 Type 23 frigates form 50% of the total frigate/destroyer force in the Royal Navy. Originally designed for the principal task of anti-submarine warfare, they have evolved into powerful and versatile multi purpose ships with the capability to operate anywhere in the world. The effectiveness of these ships is enhanced by their stealth design, which reduces their radar signature significantly. In addition to the war fighting roles described above, the ship is trained to conduct a wide range of other tasks. These include embargo operations using boarding teams inserted from the ship's boats or helicopter, disaster relief work and surveillance operations.

HMS Iron Duke

The current Iron Duke is the third RN Ship to bear the name and 5th of the Duke Class Frigates. Launched on 2 March 1991 by the Ship's Sponsor, Lady Jane King, the wife of the then Secretary of State for Defence, she was commissioned on 30 May 1991. Iron Duke enjoys strong affiliations with her home town of Kingston Upon Hull, the Duke of Wellington's Regiment and the Worshipful Company of Founders. Her motto is "Virtutis Fortuna Comes" (Fortune is the companion of valour).

Seen here departing Rosyth after a refit

Seen here arriving Leith

Alongside the following day

HMS Lancaster

Built by Yarrow Shipbuilders on the Clyde, Lancaster is the fourth of the Type 23 frigates. She was launched by Her Majesty the Queen (Duke of Lancaster) in May 1990 and commissioned 2 years later. The Ship's emblem is the historically famous Lancastrian Red Rose.

The current HMS Lancaster is the sixth to bear the name. She was commissioned in 1992 by Her Majesty the Queen in her official role as Duke of Lancaster who incidentally retains close links as our sponsor. Displacing 4000 tonnes and with a crew of approximately 180, Portsmouth is her home port when not on operational tasking. 

Seen here arriving Leith 22nd October 1998

HMS Monmouth

Built by Yarrow Shipbuilders on the Clyde, Monmouth is the sixth of the Type 23 Duke class frigates. She was launched by Lady Eaton in 1991 and commissioned two years later. Affectionately known as the 'Black Duke' (to find out why see the ship's history page), Monmouth is easily recognised by the black flag she flies from the mainmast. 

Seen here arriving Leith 29th February 2008

HMS Northumberland

HMS Northumberland was built at Swan Hunters at Wallsend on the Tyne, being launched in April 1992 by the ship's sponsor Lady Kerr. She was accepted into Royal Naval Service in May 1994.

She is affiliated to Northumberland County Council , The Morpeth Pipe Band,The Light Dragoons, TS Tenacity SCC to name but a few. She has and impressive set of battle honours ranging from Barfleur in 1692 to Groix Island in 1812.

Seen here arriving Leith 8th March 1997

HMS  Somerset

The present HMS Somerset is the 4th to bear the name and was built by Yarrow Shipbuilders Ltd. She was launched on 24 June 1994 on the Clyde by Lady Elspeth Layard, wife of the then Second Sea Lord Admiral Sir Michael Layard, and commissioned on 20 September 1996, at Devonport, in the presence of Lady Elspeth and his Grace the Duke of Somerset. HMS Somerset maintains close links with both the Duke of Somerset and the County of Somerset . The ship's motto, adopted in 2005 to celebrate Trafalgar 200 and the ship's close connection with the Dukes of Somerset, is the family motto of the Dukes of Somerset:

Seen here departing Faslane 2007

HMS Westminster

HMS WESTMINSTER enjoys excellent relations with the City of Westminster, the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, the Worshipful Company of Fanmakers and London Underground (Westminster Station of course!). The ship's motto is "For Nation and for Glory",

Seen here arrivng Leith 22nd February 1997

Type 22 Frigates

Originally designed as specialist anti-submarine platform, the Type 22 Frigates have evolved into a powerful surface combatant with substantial anti surface, anti submarine and anti aircraft weapons systems. They also possesses excellent command & control and communication facilities, making them ideal Flagships. On patrol they have an efficient cruising speed of 18 knots, but have a sprint capability of over 30 knots.

HMS Cumberland
The present HMS Cumberland has deployed worldwide continuing a distinguished history. During World War Two, four battle honours were awarded to the previous Cumberland in recognition of operations in North Africa, the Arctic, Sabang and Burma. The ship is affiliated to the County of Cumbria, formerly Cumberland, and is a proud "Ambassador for Cumbria". She maintains successful affiliations with a number of Sea Cadet Units, local Schools and the Cumberland Hotel.

She is currently in a refit in Rosyth Dockyard an d is due to start sea trials in May 2010

Seen here departing Faslane in 2007

HMS Cornwall

HMS Cornwall is a Type 22 frigate, "stretched" approximately 17 m longer than the original Broadsword Class. She was launched in October 1985 and commissioned at Falmouth, Cornwall in 1988 by the Ship's sponsor, Diana Princess of Wales. Following the untimely death of Princess Diana, Lady Mary Holborow, Lord Lieutenant of the County of Cornwall assumed responsibilities.

The Ship is the first of the Batch 3 Type 22 Frigates and is part of Devonport Flotilla. The Commanding Officer is Commander Johnny Ley.
  
She is seen here arriving Leith 21st February 1997

British Mine Sweepers and Hunters

Hunt Class

The Hunt Class are the largest warships ever constructed out of Glass Reinforced Plastic. Although orginally built as dual purpose Minesweepers and Minehunters, the class are currently configured to function only in the Minehunter role. As Minehunters they 'hunt' for mines with a high definition sonar and then destroy them using explosives placed either by the Mine Clearance Divers or by the Sea Fox Mine Disposal System . In addition they are equiped with: a single 30mm gun, two Miniguns and three General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs).  This equipment fit enables the Hunt class to function in a Secondary Role as very potent patrol Craft.
 
HMS Ledbury is the second of the Hunt Class Mine Counter Measures Vessels to be built. The ship was launched by her Sponsor, Lady Elizabeth Berthan in December 1979 and was commissioned into Naval Service on 11th June 1981. She cost £65 Million at time of building, the most expensive cost for a class of ship per metre ever built by the Royal Navy.

The Hunt Class is unique in the Royal Navy for its dual functions of 'Sweeping' and 'Hunting' on the same platform and can be rolled from one function to the other in minutes

HMS Ledbury leaving Leith for a commital at sea 30th July 2007

HMS Middleton
HMS Middleton was built by Yarrow Shipbuilders Ltd., Glasgow and launched on 4 July 1984 by Lady Blaker. She has a close affiliation with the town of Middleton in the Borough of Rochdale.

Seen here arriving Leith 26th September 2007

HMS Quorn

HMS Quorn was built by Vosper Thorneycroft Shipbuilders Ltd. at Woolston, Southampton and launched on 23 January 1988 by Lady Rosemary Thompson. She has established links in Leicestershire with the Quorn Hunt, after which the ship is named, the Quorn village and the town of Melton Mowbray.

Seen here arriving Leith 17th February 2006

Sandown Class - Single Role Minehunter

HMS Penzance
Launched by HRH Princess Michael of Kent on the 11th March 1997, the current HMS Penzance was commissioned on 14th May 1998 and is the fourth to bear the name.

Seen here arriving Leith 10th November 2006